Control mechanism



v Nov.- 19 1935. J, JACKERY 2,021,553

couwliqp MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1931 4 S heets-Sheet 1 v u INVENTOR Fla/0122p J. Jae/ref? Nov. 19, 1935. v R. J. JACKER 2,

' CONTRQL MECHANISM I Fil ed Oct. 22; 1931 4 Sheetsshed 2 I I 1.4 29 II F? 9 1 I INVENTOR F/c/mrw UT Jflcnz ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1935." R. J. JACKER 2,021,553

' common MECHANISM Filed Oct. 22, 1931- 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mgaw Nov. 19,1935. R. J. JACKER 2,021,553 CONTROL MECHANISM Filed 001;. 22, 193]. 4 slg eets sh'eet 4 -v INVENTOR Flo/main I Went)? ATTORN Y5 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE coN'rnor. MECHANISM Richard J. Jacket, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 22, 1931, Serial No. 570,357

6 Claims.

My invention relates .to automatic control mechanism for laundry and dry cleaning apparatus to control the performance of the several successive operations of the apparatus, thus elim- 5, inating the. manual control of each operation.

Hereinafter, the controlwill be described as being of the type operated by a constantly operating repeated as desired, thus rendering the control The dry cleaning apparatus illustrated is one 20 similar to the apparatus disclosed in the application of Russell A. Hetzer, Ser. No. 462,061, filed June 18, 1930, to which reference may be had for details not herein disclosed, and comprises a motor driven revolving garment container within a treating compartment, a sump tank into which the treating liquid is permitted to drain from the treating compartment, a still and condenser wherein the treating liquid from the sump tank is reclaimed for further use, a storage tank in which, the reclaimed treating liquid is stored for use in the treating compartment, a fan and airheater by means of which heated air is forced. through the goods in the treating compartment for a drying operation, a condenser for removing treating medium from the air, and suitable valves or dampers by means of which the same fan forces fresh air through the goods inthe treating compartment to deodorize the goodsafter, the cleaning and drying operations. The. control forming the subject matter of this application is designed to operate several valves, switches, and dampers at certain intervals to carry out any particular treating formula without any attention on the part of the operator after the apparatus is once placed in operation. I

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a v sage to permit steam to flow to the air heater.

rearwardmost side of the control shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of the type of chain employed in the .control mechanism; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing 5 the arrangement of valves and operating means therefor for controlling the flow of air in the I drying and deodorizing circuit.

Referring to the drawings, the laundry apparatus shown comprises a fabric treating compartment l within which is mounted a rotatable goods containing cylinder disposed on a shaft 2 and driven by a'motor 3 through suitable gearing 4, operation of the motor being controlled by a switch 5 normally spring pressed to closed position whereby the switch lever 6 must be operated to stop operation of the motor 3. In the operation of the apparatus, while the cylinder in the treating compartment I is rotating, having been filled with goods to be treated, a quantity of treating fluid is permitted to flow from a supply tank I into the treating compartment I through a pipe 8 under the control of a valve 9 normally held in closed position whereby it must be operated by moving the valve lever ill to open 'the conduit between the storage tank and the treating compartment.

Then, after the goods in the treating compartment I have been subjected to the treating medium for a sufiicient length of time, the used 3 treating medium is drained from the compartment into a sump tank ll through a pipe l2 under control of a valve l3 normally yieldingly held in closed position necessitating operation of the valve lever I 4 to open'the passage between the 5 treating compartment and the sump tank. After this operation, the goods within the treat ing compartment are subjected to heated air forced through the compartment after having passed through an air heater l5 to which steam-40 is supplied from a source of supply through a pipe l6 under the control of a valve I! normally yieldingly held in closed position whereby the valve lever It! must be operated to open the pas- From the treating compartment, the heated'air passes through a condenser I! kept cool by a constant flow of cold waterthrough a pipe 20 under the control of a valve 2| normally yieldingly held in closed position whereby the valve lever 22 must beoperated to openapas'sageforcoldwater to the condenser. The air is forced through the treating compartment I and condenser I! by a fan 23 driven by a motor 24 whose operation is controlled by a switch 25 normally held in open position whereby the switch lever 26 ,must be moved to bring about operation of the motor. Finally, to deodorize the goods within the treating compartment, fresh air is admitted into the compartment by opening a valve 21 in aconduit 28, this valve 21 being normally yieldingly held in closed position whereby a valve lever 23 must be operated to open the valve.

Operatively connected with the valve 21 and arranged to'be moved in unison therewith are valves 36 and 3| in a circuit, including the treating compartment I, condenser l9, fan 23, and air heater IS, in such manner that, when valve 21 is closed as shown, the valve 30 will close a passage to the atmosphere and the valve 3| will be in open position whereby heated air may be circulated through the treating compartment in a closed circuit. Reversely, when the valve 21 is open, the valve 30 is in open position and the valve 3| is closed whereby cold air will be drawn into the circuit past the valve 21 and then discharged to the atmosphere through the conswitch lever, and cold air valve lever.

duit 32. No automatic means is disclosed herein for controlling the operation of the stills 33 and 34 forming a part of the apparatus, the condenser 35, or the motor driven pump 36. Hence, these parts willnot'be described although they are shown to illustrate a complete garment cleaning apparatus and a control mechanism may be as readily applied thereto as to the other parts of the apparatus.

Substantially all of the parts forming the control mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention are supported or mounted on a suitable base 31 forming a part of or secured near the laundry apparatus with which it functions. In-the present instance, the base 31 is secured below the air-heater l5. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a roller 36 is disposed at the right hand endof the base 31, the shaft 33 of the roller being mounted in bearings provided in uprights 46 on the base 31. A small gear-4| is loosely mounted on one of the uprights 4i and is adapted to mesh with a large gear 42 on the shaft 33. The shaft and roller may be rotated by a crank handle 43 secured to the small gear 4|.

At the left hand end of the base 31 a plurality of idlers are mounted on shafts 45, these shafts being, in turn, mounted in suitable bearings provided in the opposed ends of suitable yokes 46 arranged to slide in horizontal ways 41 provided on vertical partitions 46 that are molmted on the base 31. Aplurality of endless chains 43 are looped around the roller 36 at the right hand end and ,around the idlers 44 at the left hand end. That is, each chain is looped about a single idler 44 each of which is provided with a yoke 46 that is spring pressed to the left by means of aspring 56 and an adjusting screw mounted in an adjustable bracket 62 whereby each chain 46 is held taut.

The particular garment cleaning apparatus is one in which seven separate levers or handles must be operated to bring about complete operation of the machine, namely, a cylinder motor switch lever,treating compartmentflll lever, treating compartment drain lever, heater steam valve lever, condenser cold water valve lever, fan motor Therefore, each endless chain 46 employed to perform all the operations of a formula is'provided with seven link divisions 63, and as many chains are provided as is desired to run diiferent' formulas. That is, one chain is provided for each formula. In the control illustrated, four endless chains are provided, hence, four different formulas canberun.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 8, each link of each chain 49 is provided with seven spaced link divisions or slots 53 and each division or slot has a 5 shoulder or oil-set 54 in its rear end wall and a transversely extending pin 55 near its front end wall, the pin 55 extending entirely through a link and serving for all seven slots in that link, the slots being constructed for the purpose of securing detachable cam blocks 56 to the links.

Each cam block 56 is approximately as long as a link of the chain from pivot to pivot and slightly greater in width than one of the slots 53, the cam block being provided with a thinner extenl5 sion which fits loosely into the slot 53 and having' a shoulder or hook 51 thereon adapted to engage the shoulder 54 of the link and with a hook 56 adapted to.engage the pin 55.

As clearly seen in Fig. 8, with this construction, the cam block 56 is locked against removal from the link as long as the shoulder and hook 51 and 58 engage the shoulder 54 and pin 55-.

A leaf spring 53 is secured to'one end of the cam block extension that extends into theslot 53, this spring being adapted to bear against one end of the slot to yieldingly hold the cam block extension against the rearward end of the slot 53 with the shoulder 51 and hook 56 in engagetively. Thus, any cam block can be secured in or removed from any desired slot 53 in any desired link of any chain 49.

A suitable driving means is provided for intermittantly moving the chain 49 about the roller 38 and idler 44 apart from the hand crank 43 and connecting mechanism. Therefore, each longitudinal edge of each link of the separate chains 49 is provided with one or more ratchet teeth 66 which, as seen in Figs- 3 and 4,. are adapted to be engaged by a gravity pawl 6| pivotally mounted as at 62 on the uppermost ends of supporting arms 63 which have their lower ends pivoted on a rod 64 secured in standards 65 on the base 31. The uppermost ends of the arms v 63 are connected by means of rods 66 to crank pins 66' secured on each end of a shaft 61 that is driven through the medium of gearing 66 by a motor 61'.

Constant rotation of the shaft 61 will move the arms 63 and pawl 6| forwardly and backwardly constantly to successively engage the ratchet teeth 66 on the links of the chain 49. A means is provided whereby the pawl 6| is held up out of'engagement with the ratchet teeth on the links of the chains 43 during the greater part of its forward and backward movements and in the particular control mechanism shown,- the pawl 6| moves the chains 46 the distance of one link or one tooth each minute. That is, 60 the parts are so synchronized that the shaft 61 makes one revolution every two seconds whereby the pawl 6| engages and moves the chains 49 the distance of one tooth 60 each thirty cycles of the movement of the shaft 61.

Ratchet lifting arms 63' are connected by a cross bar. 68'- whose lower beveled edge rests on a ratchet wheel 63 loosely mounted to rotate on the shaft 64. With this construction, as the pawl 6| is moved forwardly or to the right as 70 shown in Fig. 4, the cross bar 66' takes into one tooth of the ratchet wheel 66 and rotates it clockwise the distance of one tooth, and when the pawl 6| moves backwardly the bar 68' slides over the next tooth on the ratchet wheel, the

wheel being prevented from moving contra-clockwise by a spring pawl 10 mounted on a cross member of the frame. lhe ratchet wheel 69 is provided, in this instance, with thirty teeth, one

. of which is a deep tooth II and when the cross bar 68' engages this deep tooth the ratchet liitlng links 63'. will drop a greater distance than ,when the other twenty-nine teeth are engaged by the bar 68"which will pefmit the pawl 6| to engage the teeth 60 0f the chains 49. The lower ends of the links 63' are provided with forks 68" which straddle the shaft 64 and permit free vertical movement of the links 63. et wheel 69 is given one complete rotation every minute and the chains d9 are moved along the distance of one tooth 60 every minute, the mech arranged above the four chains 59 to cooperate.

with the cam blocks 56 thereon. These levers 772 are loosely pivoted on a shaft iii rigidly secured at eachend in uprights it extending upwardly from the base ill and have their short curved end: it so located that they will be lifted by the cam blocks 55 secured. to the chains :19 when the chains are moved as described. When. the short ends of the levers it are lifted by the cam blocks at, the long end will be moved downwardly about the shaft it as a pivot and the extremityof the longend of each lever i2 is pivotally connected to the lowermost end of a flat pull rod it with the upper end of each pull rod iii being connected to one of the valve and switch operating levers hereinbefore mentioned. That is, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the seven pull rods it are connected to operate the seven levers t, it, i l, lt, 22, 2B, and 29. When any of the above levers are to be held in operated position for any given length of time, a successive row of .cam blocks Eat mounted on the chain 49 will be presented to the short end of the lever 72. However, only the first block of the row will be provided with a beveled or inclined surface "ii to contact with theshort end 115 of the lever l2.

As" above described, in the control mechanism shown, provision is made-on each chain id for seven longitudinal rows of cam blocks 56 so that one lever 12 cooperates with each row of-blocks. Each'chain 39 of the four chains shown repre-- sents a different formula and to change the operationof the machine from one formula to an other the whole set of seven levers l2 are-moved laterally on the shaft 53 to registering position "with the particular chain 59 forcausing operation of the apparatus in the desired formula, the pull rods 16 being of such length and flexibility that the proper operation of the parts is not affected by shifting the levers I! from one side to Y Thus, the ratchlevers 12 so that the set of levers is. snugly held between the depending lugs of the nut and necessarily travel along with said nut when the screw shaft 18 is turned. A crank handle is provided on the shaft 18 for turning the shaft and the 5 depending lugs on the nut 19 are preferably provided with holes through which the shaft l3 extends 'to give the shaft i3 additional support. To raise. and lower the upper lap of the chains 49 into and out of a position wherein they will not be engaged by the pawl GI and the short ends .,15 of the levers '32 whereby the timing device may be rendered inoperative or may be moved forwardly or backwardly by rotation of the shaft 39 to set the control mechanism at any position desired for any particular operation of the apparatus in any particular step of the formula, all four chains 49 are supported intermediate the roller 35 and idler M by a vertically movable shelf 8| guided by the ways t2 provided on the uprights id. The shelf 3! has two positions, the operative or up position as shown in Fig. 4, and the inoperative or down position. To raise and lower the shelf, two toggles 83, one adjacent either upright lid, are provided. The upper ends of the toggles are pivotally connected as at to the sub-structure of the shelf at and the lower ends of the toggles are rigidly connected to a. rock'shaft 35 having an operating lever ti connected to one end thereof. Obviously, when the shaft is turned contra-clockwise the shelf at will be lowered whereby the upper lap of the chain as may move downwardly by gravity and,

- when the shaft is'turned clockwise, the shelf 8!! will be raised to move the upper lap of the chains upwardly so that the teeth may be engaged by the bar ti and the cam blocks 56 be engaged by the short endsil'i of the levers lithe shelf being locked in its raised position by the toggle being moved past the dead center line thereof. Thus, a. means is provided for rendering the device inoperative or moving the upper laps of the chains #39 to such positions that they may be adjusted either forwardly or backwardly.

Referring to'the drawings and the. preceding no description, it will be seen that I have'provided a device for controlling the operation of a laundry apparatus wherein the various steps of any formula will be automatically performed with- ,cut the intervention ofthe operator after the laundry apparatusand control-mechanism are once started in operation. lhave also provided a control mechanism wherein it is possible to vary the time that any of the steps of a formula are performed and wherein it is possible to adjust the control mechanism to bring about a repetition of the steps of the formula at any given point in the operation of the apparatus. Various other advantageous features will be readily apparent. What I claim is: I a

1. Controlling mechanism of the character described, comprising aplurality of mastercontrol devices grouped together, each. control device comprising an'endless chain having a plurality 65 of control means arranged therealong', a plurality of ,control members for dperation of apparatus,

said control-members being arrangd to coact with said control means of one of said master control devices, means for driving said chains, 70 and means for selectively associating said control members with anyone; of said master 'control devices. I 12. Controlling mechanism of the character described, comprising a plurality of master control 75 devices grouped together, each control device comprising an endless chain having a plurality of control means arranged in a predetermined relation therealong, a plurality 01' control members for operation of apparatus, said control'members being arranged to coact with said control means of one of said master control devices, means for driving said chains in timed relation, and means operable at will for selectively associatingsaid control members with any one of said master control devices. r

. 3. Control mechanism of the character described, comprising a plurality of master control devices grouped together, each control device comprising an endless chain having a plurality of control means arranged therealong, a plurality of control members for operation of apparatus, said control members having flexible levers suspended with their ends adjacent the control devices in position to coact with-said devices, and means for flexing said levers to position them to coact with any one of said master control devices.

4. The combination of claim 1, including means for relatively moving said chains and control members out of coacting position whereby the control devices may be set at any desired position of their operating cycle at the will of the operator.

5. Controlling mechanism ior apparatus adapted to perform a series of operations in sequence, comprising a plurality of control members for operation of said apparatus, a plurality of master control devices grouped side by side, each control device having a control means for each of said control members for coaction therewith, said control means being adjustably mounted on said device whereby the operation of said apparatus by one master control device may be varied and. whereby various formulae for the operation or said apparatus may be set on said plural master control devices, means iordriving said master control devices, and means for causing relative movement between said control members and said group of master control devices whereby said control members may be selectively operatively associated with any one of said master control devices. r

6. Control mechanism for apparatus of the ch ter described, comprising a plurality of controlmembers tor operation of said apparatus, a plurality of master control devices grouped together, each control device having a plurality of control means one for each of said control members for emotion-therewith; said control'means on each master control device being differently arranged providing various formulae for the opera- .tion 0! said apparatus on said plural master con- RICHARD J, JACKER. 

